The San Diego State football team has three scrimmages during spring practice.

These are the only opportunities, SDSU head coach Rocky Long says, where coaches can make an honest assessment of where things stand with the Aztecs players.

Long liked the energy when the team scrimmaged two weeks ago.

“It was spirited,” he said.

Last week’s scrimmage was another story.

“I thought we got a little tired, a little lazy, toward the end of the scrimmage on both side of the ball,” Long said. “We lost a little concentration. There were a lot more mental errors late in the scrimmage.

“They’re tired of practicing, but that’s what you’ve got to do. They like playing games. They don’t like to practice. That’s probably 90 percent of the athletes in the world.”

If a player is to earn a starting spot that is up for grabs, this is the time to do it.

SDSU will have its final scrimmage about 10 a.m. Saturday at the former Chargers Park (4020 Murphy Canyon Rd). It is open to the public.

Among the competitions of interest are at fullback, backup running back and wide receiver on offense. SDSU also is looking for a starter on the defensive line, another at linebacker and two players in the secondary.

Long planned to design this week’s practices in such a way that the players would be more fresh for this scrimmage.

He is eager to identify now the up-and-coming young players who can make a difference during the season.

“There are several teams that we play and want to beat that have more athletic ability than we do,” Long said. “The way to overcome athletic ability is how hard you play and how tough you play.”

Redshirt freshmen Chance Bell and Kaegun Williams and senior Chad Woolsey are expected to get most of the carries in the scrimmage.

Woolsey also could compete at fullback if he adds some weight, although junior Isaac Lessard is the leading candidate to replace Nick Bawden at the position.

Long said no receivers have jumped out in the competition to replace 70 percent of the catches lost with the departures of Mikah Holder and Quest Truxton.

It would not be surprising if some of the defensive help is not on campus until the summer, when the defensive line will be bolstered by two junior college transfers and the secondary adds some talented freshmen. True freshman Tariq Thompson (St. Augustine) earned his way into the starting lineup at safety last season.

Sophomore running back Chase Jasmin and senior nose tackle Noble Hall both were sideline during camp with knee injuries, although they are recovering quickly.

“If we were playing (a game) Saturday, they would play,” Long said. “But they aren’t scrimmaging.”

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